hayden



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H, P. HAYDBN.

GENERATOR PORBYDROGARBON VAPOR. 0R GAS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2).. Y

lrmmlv. GENERATOR PoR HYDRQCARBON VAPOR 0R GAS. N0f274l596. Pantemizedl Mar; 27, 1883-.

i UNITED STATES HENRY FQHAYDEN, or WAsHINGroN,

PATENT v DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,596, dated` March 27, 1883.

application nieu February is, lees. (No modem y 'To afl-Z whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY F. HAYDEN, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in Generators for Producing Hydrocarbon Vapor or Gas, of `which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to that class of apparatus used for generating vapor ory gas from liquid hydrocarbons and superheated steam; and the invention consists, first, in a novel construction of the retort, usually denominated the generator; and, second, in a novel combination and arrangement of the furnace, superheater, and retort, all as hereinafter more fully setforth.

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved apparatus'. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line fr :u of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a centralvertical section of a modified form of the retort, and Fig. d is a portion shown more in detail.

The object of this invention is to produce an apparatus for generating vapor or gas from liquid hydrocarbons and steam, to be us'ed either in connection with a furnace of any suitable kind in which the vapor is to be burned as fuel or for the production of a fixed gas.

`Various efforts have heretofore been made to utilize the liquid hydrocarbons, especially crude petroleum, as a fuel, and various forms of apparatus have been devised for that purpose 5 but as a general rule these efforts have not resulted in such success' as to secure its introduction to any considerable extent. One of the greatest difdculties thusfarencountered is the formation of a carbonaceous deposit in the retort, which soon interferes with its operation, and clogs or fills up to a greater or less extent the pipes and burners, thereby necessitating frequent stoppages and the cleaning out of the various parts, andvnot unfre quently the replacing of the retort or parts of the same. f

The object of my invention, therefore, is to overcome or obviate these difficulties and produce an apparatus which can be run continuously for an unlimited period, and in which the interior parts of the retort` are rendered easily accessible, so they can be quickly removed and replaced in case of necessity, and

which shall contain a greatly-increased metallic surface to operate upon the vapor. In order to accomplishv these results, I construct the retort as shown in Fig. l, in which G rep resents a conical metallic vessel,case,or body, the upper end of which is provided with a laterally-projecting flange for supporting it in position in a vertical heat-flue, F', as shown in Fig. l. Inside of this body G, Iarrange a series of short conical tubes', I, as shown in Fig. 1, these tubes being provided with small radial flanges at their larger ends, which may rest against the inner walls of the body G, or upon lugs cast upon the interior of the saine, as may be preferred. Each of these conical tubes I is arranged so that its smaller end will project a short distance into the larger end of the one next below it, and they are made of a decreasing diameter from the top downward, corresponding with the decreasing diameterof the body G, the Whole thus formingaseries of what might be termed injector-nozzles of large diameter, arranged Within the case or body G of the retort. The top of the retort is closed by a plate so arranged as to close it steamtight, but which can be easily removed to give access to the interior, and upon this plate is a spherical chamber, H,into which thecombined hydrocarbon and steam is injected through a pipe, D', as hereinafter more fully explained. The lower end of the retort G is preferably curved, so as to stand at a right angle, and thus prevent the formation of any sharp angle or corner for the deposit to form or lodge in.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification of the internal parts, the conicaltubes I being replaced by a series of spherical vessels or tubes of regularly-decreasing size, each -being provided with a tube, n, arranged to project down into the one nent below, similar tothe conical tubes lin Fig. l,tl1ewhole series being fastened together, and suspended from the top plate, so thatby releasing the latter the Whole can be lifted out together without disturbing the body G. In order to provide superheated steam, and also heat the retort, I build a furnace, A, essentially as shown in Fig. l, it being covered by an arch, U, pierced with open-y ings a,whieh lead up into a chamber, B, above, and from 1which chamber a passage, F, opens into a descending flue, F, within which the retort G is set, as shown, the flue F beingconnected with an ascending flue or smoke-pipe of the proper height to give the requisite draft.

Within the chamber B, I locate a superheater, D, which in this case consists of a series of coils of pipe, each coil being arranged in a horizontal plane, and the coils being so arranged that the pipes of one coil shall be opposite the spaces between the pipes of the adjoining coils, as shown in Figs. l and 2, thereby causing the dame and heat to impinge directly upon and pass'in among and around the several pipes in the most eiicient manner. In order to protect these pipes from injury by the intense heat to which they are subjected, I inclose them within a larger pipe or tube, O, as shown in Fig. 1, and in section in Fig. 2; or, instead of-.using metal tubes for incasing the superheater, the pipes may be coated with asbestusv or any similar material. Steam is to be supplied to the superheater through l the pipe D, where the latter projects through the wall, as shown in Fig. 1, and, after being superheated in the coil, is conveyed by a pipe, D', to the retort, as shown, the steam being supplied from a separate boiler, (notfshowin) and which, if desired, may be set over the superheater and be heated by the same furnace, as described in my previous application.

The liquid hydrocarbon or oil will be 'fed through a pipe, E, either by gravity, aforcepump, or injector, as preferred, into the pipe D' at a point as far as convenient from the retort, the object being to bring the oil in contact with the superheated steam, so that the heat of the latter may act as far as possible to volatilize the oil before entering the retort; and in order to effect this result as fully as possible I project the end of the oil-pipe E in to the steam-pipe D, as shown in section in Fig. 4, so that the passing current of steam shall seize or act upon the oil vas it leaves the'end of pipe E, and deliver it inthe form of a spray, thereby dividing the oil up into a great number of sm all particles or globules, upon the increased surfaces of which the superheated steam can act ymuch more efficiently, and thus volatilize it to a much greaterextent before entering the retort. The mingled oil and steam will be delivered from the spherical vessel H, in the form of a spray or vapor, upon the first of the conical tubes I, which in turn will spray itl upon the next, and so on through the series, the spaces between the tubes I and the walls of the body G being lled with the vapor, which will be thereby heated, and, as it were, cooked, or more intimately combined. The jet, being projected through the nozzles or conical tubes I, will constantly tend to draw more or less of the vapor from within the spaces between them and the sides of the body G, and this in turn will be as constantly'replaced as the entire retort is to be kept full, and under more or less pressure all the time. be seen that the mass oi vapor within thereor regulating the iiow at will.

It will thereforev tort,instead of passing directly throughit, will be caused to pass in and out of the spaces surrounding the tubes I, and at the same' time will be brought in contact with a largely-increased surface of heated metal, thereby volatilizing the hydrocarbon in amost effectual manner, and thoroughly mingling and combining it with the Vsuperheated steam.

In order to produce the best results, it is desirable that the superheated steam-be raised to a temperature of about 12000,' or as near that as practicable, and the form of superlieater shown is designed toimpart to the steam a high degree of heat. y Frkt )ipe,-K,leading from thelower end ofthe retort, serves to 'convey the vapor or gas to a furnace, or any point where it is desired to use it; and this pipe, like all the others, will be provided with stop-cocks e for shutting ofi' The conical form of the retort will necessarily cause tlie body ot" material within it to move with aconstantly-increasing velocity as it descends, andas' the lighter portions ,of the hydrocarbons will be volatilized by the time they reach the retort, or, at least, in the upper portion of ythe retort, there will be increased opportunity for the volatili'zation of the heavier portions as they descend farther and farther in the retort, and as theyemove with a constantly-increasing velocity the tendency to form deposits in the lower portion of the retort will be thereby greatly lessened.

The apparatus thus constructed may be used to generate hydrocarbon vapor to be used as a fuel for any purpose desired, or to produce a iixed gas. When usedfor this latter pur pose a higher degree of heat will be required around the retort, and this is to be effected by regulating the amount of fuel usedin the furnace A, and by controlling the draft of the same, it of course being provided with suita ble devices for thatpurpose. In making a fixed gas it may be desirable to pass the vapor through two or more of these retorts, which may be arranged side by side, or in any other manner, so as to cause the vapor to pass suc cessively through them. y

IEhe apparatus, as a whole, is very simple, and the retort is easy of access and can have its internal parts removed or replaced with facility. By simply shutting oli' the oil and passing steam through it under a good pressure -it can be most eii'ectually cleansed at any time desired, especiallywhen ceasing operations, thereby removing any and' all matter which might tend to form a deposit therein.

I am aware that a retort has been described in which circular plates or diaphragme were shown suspended by a chain to receive the ICO IIO

dripping oil, and from the edges of which it 1. The herein-described retort for the gener-V ation of hydrocarbon vapor or gas, consisting descending flue F,a1l arranged to operate subf the conical bdy G, with thedconical tubes stantially as shown and described.

,or equiva ent evces arrange therein, sub- N stantiaily as and forthe purpose set forth. HENRY F HAYDLN' 2. The combination of the furnace A with Witnesses: the chamber B, having the snperheater D ar- G. A. NEALE, ranged therein, and the retort: G, located in the WALTER S. DODGE, 

